Short Summary

THE BRITISH-PROTECTED SULTANATE OF BRUNEI IS ISSUING IDENTITY CARDS TO ALL PERSONS ABOVE THE AGE OF 12, ABOUT 60,000 PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED.

Description

THE BRITISH-PROTECTED SULTANATE OF BRUNEI IS ISSUING IDENTITY CARDS TO ALL PERSONS ABOVE THE AGE OF 12, ABOUT 60,000 PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED. ONCE THE WORK IS COMPLETED BY THE END OF DECEMBER THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS TO BE ABLE TO TRACE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AGAINST INDONESIAN INFILTRATORS INTO THIS OIL-RICH SULTANATE NESTLING IN THE NORTHWEST OF MALAYSIAN SARAWAK.

WITH THIS MOVE, BRUNEI HAS COME INTO LINE WITH HER NEIGHBOURS - MALAYSIAN SARAWAK, SABAH, SINGAPORE AND MALAYA. BRUNEI, ROCKED BY INTERNAL DISTURBANCES LED BY A.M. AZAHARI AND BACKED BY INDONESIA IN DECEMBER 1962, ELECTED TO STAY OUT OF MALAYSIA WHEN THE FEDERATION WAS FORMED IN 1963.

VISITORS WHO INTEND TO STAY MORE THAN THREE MONTHS WILL HAVE TO REGISTER FOR IDENTITY CARDS. THE CARDS ARE BEING ISSUED IN THREE COLOURS -- PURPLE-BLUE FOR SULTAN SIR OMAR ALI SAIFUDDIN'S SUBJECTS, RED FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS AND GREEN FOR VISITORS.

(MEANWHILE, SIR OMAR IS EXPECTED TO RETURN HOME SHORTLY AFTER A WEEK OF TALKS IN LONDON WITH BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT FOR BRUNEI.)